2005 Full Size Pontiac Chi-Town Shindig
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"An FSPC
window cling found a home on
Bruce
Rothenberger's GP!"
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Inaugural
Chi-Town Shindig
is in the books! |
Well, the first
Full Size Pontiac Club gathering was a success! Despite the
cold, wind and threat of rain, 12 cars made it to Gemato’s in
Naperville, IL on Sunday, May 15th. A few folks (including our
fearless leader Pio) showed up without Full Size Pontiacs, but
we can forgive them this time. Next time, no free pass! (JP’s
note: My 64 Bonneville wagon has been in the shop getting its
tranny re-done and wasn’t buttoned up in time to make it.) A
fellow Poncho owner without a car present redeemed himself by
bringing along pictures of the GP he is finishing; a very nice
looking 1969 Grand Prix in Limelight Green. We also had one
car that didn’t quite make it to Naperville under it’s own power
due to a small HEI problem, but Steve Snyder swooped in en route
from Indianapolis and hauled the car to the gathering (see pictures).
Lucky for Dana, his Catalina was a ‘64 or Steve may not have
stopped. Thanks Steve!
Here are the
cars and owner info (where we know it):
1961 Bonneville
4-door – George Arazan
1962 Catalina HT – Pete Lettecci, Lake Zurich, IL
1964 Grand Prix – Dominic Cogan, Homer Glen, IL
1964 Catalina CV – Dana Pyle, Lockport, IL
1965 Bonneville CV – Robert Hines, Arlington Heights, IL
1967 Bonneville Brougham 4-door (car won in a Pontiac contest
in 1967 – has practically every factory option) – Ron Panzer,
Marengo, IL
1967 Bonneville CV - Mark Nagel, Crystal Lake, IL
1969 Grand Prix – Bob Kopieka, Evergreen Park, IL
1970 Grand Prix SJ – Mike Brooks, Chicago IL
1972 Grand Safari Wagon – Eric Binotti, Chicago Ridge, IL
1972 Catalina Sheriff’s car – AJ McKechnie???????
1973 Grand Prix (original owner car) –Gene Muratore, Naperville,
IL
Honda Oddity minivan – John Piotrowski, Homewood, IL
Mike Ardito of
Tri-Power Automotive in Libertyville, IL was also in attendance
as well as several others including friends, family, wives and
kids. We’re going to stay on Mike to be sure he brings at least
one of his killer 2+2’s to the next Shindig!
What did we learn
from all of this??? We learned that some old cars come back
to haunt us (right Ron?). We learned that DuPage County doesn’t
like people driving around in replicas of their old squad cars.
We learned what the “Aliquippa Quips” are (We give up, Mark—what
are you talking about?!). We learned that rain doesn’t melt
cars, but cold wind is a good match for most folks. Most of
all, we made new friends and had a good time.
Mark Nagel
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